1-C. Illegal baiting of bear. A person is guilty of illegally baiting bear if that person places bear bait in any manner which that does not conform to section 7451, subsection 3 3-A.

Sec. A-17. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§1-D, as enacted by PL 1989, c. 913, Pt. B, §7, is repealed.

Sec. A-18. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§2, as amended by PL 1979, c. 543, §38, is repealed.

Sec. A-19. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§2-A is enacted to read:

2-A.__Unlawful hunting of bear with trap.__The following provisions govern the hunting of bear with a trap.

A.__It is unlawful to use or set a trap to hunt or capture bear, except as provided in paragraph B.

B.__The use of a trap to hunt or capture bear is lawful in the following circumstances, provided any use of a trap pursuant to this paragraph is undertaken in the most humane manner practicable:

(1)__The trap is used by state or federal employees, acting in their official capacity, to hunt or capture a specific offending animal for purposes of protecting livestock, domestic animals, threatened or endangered wildlife, public or private property or public safety; or

(2)__The trap is used by the department or pursuant to a permit granted by the department to an accredited university for scientific or research purposes, but in no event for the purpose of killing bear.

Sec. A-20. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§3, as enacted by PL 1979, c. 420, §1, is amended to read:

3. Hunting bear after having killed one. A person is guilty of hunting or trapping bear after having killed one if he that person hunts or traps bear after he has having killed or registered one during any open season.

Sec. A-21. 12 MRSA §7452, sub-§5, as amended by PL 2003, c. 333, §13, is further amended to read: